The Knights' Attitude

Saturday.

A rather ordinary carriage, pulled by a common Will City mule, arrived outside Knight Victor's villa.

The coachman in the front climbed down and opened the wooden door, which had no glass window. Linda Russell, the eldest daughter of the Russell family, stepped out with a small black leather handbag in her hand.

"Please wait."

"Yes, Miss." The coachman bowed obediently.

The Russell family naturally did not own a carriage or employ a coachman. Linda had rented this carriage from a livery stable. After giving the coachman a few instructions, she arrived at the gates of Victor's villa. The iron gate was still open, and the elderly gatekeeper came out when he saw her.

"May I ask who you are, Miss?" The old gatekeeper gave Linda a slight bow and asked doubtfully.

"I am Linda Russell, Colin and Smith's sister. I wish to see Colin." Although Linda had urgent business, she maintained a noblewoman's composure and spoke neither too quickly nor too slowly.

"So it is Miss Linda." The elderly gatekeeper did not dare neglect her. He knew that his master had recently become quite close with the Russell brothers. He immediately invited Linda inside and had a maid lead her into the main villa.

In the villa's living room, Colin, Knight Victor, and five Imperial Knights including Abel Miller were discussing business. No servants attended them, but the coffee table held black tea, biscuits, cakes, and plums.

As Noah Company's wheat purchases proceeded smoothly and enormous profits were nearly within reach, the tea Knight Victor served his guests had become Duke Black Tea once more.

"My sister?" A maid first came in to report Linda's arrival, and Colin rose in surprise.

Knight Victor and the other Imperial Knights were also somewhat surprised. Victor quickly recovered and said with a smile to the maid, "Please invite Miss Linda in."

The maid answered and turned to leave. Before long, Linda entered from outside. She seemed a little restrained, knowing full well who the five people before her were. They were five Imperial Knights—people she would never have had the chance to meet in the past.

Yet now, Colin Russell, her younger brother, was on such familiar terms with them.

Colin saw that Linda was nervous, so he stepped forward and hugged her. Standing on tiptoe, he kissed her left cheek, then took her hand and introduced her. "Gentlemen, this is the pillar of the Russell family, my sister, Linda Russell."

"Esteemed knights." With Colin holding her hand, Linda's restraint immediately faded. She gave the group a proper bow.

"Miss Linda." The five Imperial Knights also rose and bowed to Linda. Nobles expressed their attitude through the depth of their bows. But if Linda had not been Colin's sister, she likely would not even have been able to enter Knight Victor's home.

The five Imperial Knights exchanged a few words with Linda, praising her for raising Colin so well and the like. Linda was delighted inside, though she remained modest on the surface, and the atmosphere grew even more relaxed.

However, remembering why she had come, Linda said to Colin, "Colin, the heir of the Brown family and the next Knight Brown, Lyon Brown, has sent someone to invite you to lunch. It will be tomorrow at eleven in the morning, at Baya Restaurant."

The vassals of Marquis Kent, the hereditary lord knights. Even the five Imperial Knights had long heard of the Brown family's reputation.

"Colin, Lyon Brown is your classmate, isn't he? Why did he specifically invite you to lunch? Are you two close?" Knight Victor asked curiously.

Colin was also somewhat surprised, but then he sneered. "My relationship with Lyon Brown cannot be called bad, but it certainly cannot be called good either."

A teasing look appeared on Colin's face. "On the other hand, Lyon Brown seems to have a fairly good relationship with Brian."

Lyon Brown had a good relationship with Brian? The Imperial Knights all frowned. Even a fool could guess why Lyon Brown had stepped forward at this time. He was simply acting as a mediator.

Together, they could freely crush Kebir and Brian, father and son. But compared with the enormous Brown family, they seemed somewhat insignificant.

"Colin, what do you intend to do?" Victor's expression turned grave, even a little solemn.

"Colin, don't be fooled by the fact that we're all Imperial Knights. We're old knights, and some of our families do not even have successors. As long as we sell the grain now, we can make a fortune. Grain merchants like Kebir have also suffered a severe blow and will be unable to compete with us next year. We should quit while we're ahead." Imperial Knight Abel Miller spoke even more directly. This old knight was truly old. He appeared to be only in his sixties or seventies, with silver hair and still somewhat lustrous skin, though his face was covered in deep lines. In reality, he was already seventy-eight years old.

The other four knights, including Victor, were either elderly or had retired from the Gale Knight Order due to injuries. In terms of political influence, they were far inferior to young knights, let alone the heir of the Brown family.

After the two of them spoke, the other three knights also voiced their agreement.

Colin considered it for a moment, but slowly shook his head. "Compromise is indeed one option, but I understand Brian. Through him, I can also see Kebir clearly. If we do not deal with this father and son now, there will be endless trouble later."

As he spoke, Colin could not help shaking his head. After defeating Brian last time, he had thought Brian would settle down. He had not expected so many things to happen afterward.

"As for Lyon Brown, he may be the Brown family's heir and the future hereditary lord, Knight Brown. But he is still only in his teens, just a classmate of mine. Can he represent the Brown family?"

A faint smile appeared on Colin's face.

"Colin, precisely because Lyon Brown is only in his teens, he has a long future ahead of him. And while you are outstanding, you likely cannot compete with him. Once you graduate from the academy and enter the Marquis's Knight Order, if Lyon Brown bears a grudge, he can suppress you whenever he pleases. Within the Marquis's territory, the influence of these hereditary knights is absolutely terrifying." Knight Victor's expression became increasingly serious.

He had the closest personal relationship with the Russell family and absolutely did not want Colin to become enemies with the Brown family.

"That's right. I have seen many examples. After offending these hereditary knights, some knights had no choice but to retire from the Knight Order and become adventurers. Some succeeded, but more died in the wilderness or were crippled." Knight Abel nodded as well.

The other three knights also spoke in agreement. In short, if one wanted to get by within the Marquis's territory, one absolutely could not offend these hereditary knights.

"Gentlemen, please believe me. I will have a great future. I will never become one of those people who leave the Knight Order in disgrace and die while adventuring." Colin smiled confidently, giving the Imperial Knights a slight, calm, elegant bow.

The Imperial Knights were naturally skeptical. Anyone could boast. Yet when they saw Colin's bearing, they gradually began to believe him.

Under the leadership of the young man before them, these old knights had released the last glow of their political influence. They were about to gain a large sum of money and improve their straitened lives. Among Will City's young nobles, who else could accomplish that?

Victor felt the same. Only he knew that Smith Russell possessed the Bronze Bloodline.

These two brothers are so outstanding. Perhaps they really will break through these political barriers in the future and become great nobles.